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| Orlando Sentinel Photo |
Steve Gustafson is no ordinary Florida retiree. His extraordinary efforts to save his dog Bounce from an alligator's death grip made him a hero to not only Bounce, but to family, neighbors, and friends as well.
Gustafson, a retired corporate attorney, was trimming an oak tree in the back yard of his home in The Villages, a retirement community near Orlando, Florida, when he heard his dog yelp in pain. He ran to the bank of the pond in time to see an alligator dragging the nine-year-old West Highland Terrier by her collar and shoulder into the water.
The Orland Sentinel quoted him as saying"I just knew that my best friend was going to be dead, and I took off. For whatever reason, I don’t know, I just yelled, ‘you’re not going to get her!’ and just leaped on the gator…just like you do some silly belly flop in a pool.. The only difference was I landed on top of a gator.”
He succeeded in wresting Bounce free from the seven-foot gator's grip and exited the water. Both Bounce and her owner sustained bite marks but escaped with minor injuries.
The gator swam away and was later killed by a trapper. Gustafson decided to have the 130-pound gator stuffed as a reminder of his daring rescue. He hopes it will serve as an heirloom to future generations of the Gustafson clan.
In honor of his heroic actions, neighbors presented him with a Superman cape and an alligator belt buckle. Ham on Wry thinks he's lucky to be alive and hopes this post doesn't spur anyone to try this at home.
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